On day three of a week-long running campaign, a group of runners have joined the Hillsborough Memorial in Sheffield to mark the disaster’s 35th anniversary.
The 227-mile Anfield to Grenfell Run began on April 13 and will finish April 20. The campaign aims to support victims of the 1989 Hillsborough Disaster and the 2017 Grenfell Tower Fire.
The group started at the Hillsborough Memorial located in Anfield Stadium, Liverpool and have since travelled through Manchester and Sheffield, eyeing a finish at Grenfell Tower in London on Saturday.
The Hillsborough Law, which the group calls “an essential piece of legislation aimed at fostering fairness and justice for those affected by tragedies”, would force public authorities to share any documents and statistics with the public surrounding official investigations.
The full distance will be undertaken by Michael (Mik) and Claire Parkin, and they will be joined throughout the trip by David Brighton, Manny Ruiz, Nick Wishart, and Dean, who has been part of the campaign for 30 years.
Mr Ruiz lost his niece during the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, and runs in support of her and the other victims.
The runners were cheered on by Greater Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham, Liverpool’s Mayor Steve Rotherham and Ian Byrne MP for West Derby, Liverpool.
Mr Parkin, 52, who works for the British Heart Foundation, has been a Liverpool FC fan since he was 12 and always enjoyed the general comradery of the club. In 2015, after listening to a podcast discussing the Hillsborough disaster of 1989, he decided to get involved in supporting victims and their families.
He said: “Once you sit down and talk to people, families who have been involved you see how appalling the injustice was since day one.
“This is where it goes from something that started with Liverpool, to something that will help everyone in the country. Once you get the truth, you get change.
“Some people see Hillsborough [Law Now] and think it’s just about Liverpool – but it’s not.”
On day two, Kwasi Frempong, representative of the Grenfell Foundation, joined the runners. Mr Frempong, 42, lived on Silchester estate opposite Grenfell Tower. He still recalls playing football on Sundays on the green pitches beneath the tower.
Posting on the campaign’s Facebook page, Mr Frempong said: “I believe that if you’ve got the time and ability to help people then you should as you never know the impact that giving up your time has on people.”
The money made by the fundraiser will be split equally between the Grenfell Foundation, who will donate their shares to a variety of HLN charities, and MIND to support those who need access to mental health services while dealing with trauma.
The group specifically referenced the support of Dan Kay, who was a reporter for the Liverpool Echo, and Chris Lam who was at the Hillsborough disaster.
The campaign has raised £2,640 so far, and hopes to reach £3,000 by the end of the week. Donations are accepted through the campaign Facebook page, and its fundraising page.
